The Third 50 - S1 E4 - Drills Drills Drills

The Third 50 - S1 E4 - Drills Drills Drills

Author: Glenn Mills & Wayne Goldsmith March 10, 2023 Duration: 1:02:07

Welcome to The Third 50!

The Fourth Episode...DRILLS DRILLS DRILLS and more DRILLS!!!

Download Wayne's chart here:  

Swimming coaches collect drills like kids collect candy! There are tens of thousands of swimming drills: there's a drill for every swimming occasion. 

However, how can drills be used optimally to develop an efficient and effective swimming technique for individual swimmers? 

In this Episode of The Third 50, Wayne and Glenn look at swimming drills and try to answer the questions:

  • What are “great" drills?
  • Why do you use drills?
  • When do you use drills?
  • How do you best use drills?

We also talk about the best ways to integrate drills into practice sessions and workouts and the difference between Stroke DEVELOPMENT Drills and Stroke CORRECTION Drills.

If you're a coach, a competitive swimmer, a triathlete, a surf-athlete or a fitness-swimmer - and you use drills in your swimming - then this is a must listen podcast for you!

Three Takeaways:

  1. Drills are an important element of the "tool-kit" of every coach. However, as it is with using any tool, the key is choosing the right tool for the right situation and - knowing how to use it.
  2. There is no perfect drill! Copying the drills of the world's best coaches and swimmers does not mean you've found the secret to success. Drills are just one part of the art of coaching swimmers successfully.
  3. Rather than collecting more and more drills, just start with a few then learn how to evolve them through the systematic introduction of speed, fatigue and pressure situations in practice. 


Why The Third 50?

Because it's the third 50 of a 200 that matters. (We could have called this The Third 100 because it's the same principle!)

The 1st 50 is fast because you're fresh and fired up, ready to race.

The 2nd 50 flows because you're trying to relax and keep it smooth.

The 4th 50 is about fighting and staying strong to the finish.

But the 3rd 50 is where the magic happens. It's where the integration of your mind and body, your skills and technique, your stroke mechanics and your hard training all come together.

The 3rd 50 is the "championship" lap, where the great swimmers take control of themselves and the race and power away to victory.

We want to share our almost 80 years of experience with coaches, swimming teachers, swimmers, triathletes, and people who love being in and around the water worldwide.

Who Are Wayne and Glenn?

Wayne Goldsmith is an Australian coach, mentor, writer, speaker, and presenter. He's worked in swimming for more than 30 years and is an internationally respected sports performance professional. He's been recognized for his contribution to the sport of swimming with the Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia Award and been recently received the Al Schoenfield award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Glenn Mills is an American coach, writer, and video producer.  He's been involved in swimming for over 55 years.  He's competed at every level of the sport, from winning the US Olympic Trials and NCAA Championships and even setting a few Masters World Records.  For over 25 years, he's produced swimming technique content as the Co-Founder of GoSwim.tv, the Official Technique Partner with USA Swimming.  He has also won the Paragon Award from the International Swimming Hall of Fame for his contribution to competitive swimming.

Send in your video for a chance to have it analyzed on our podcast:  https://goswim.wetransfer.com


Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith have spent their lives in and around the pool, and in their The Third 50 podcast, they dive into the conversations that happen after the stopwatch is put away. Named for the most grueling leg of a 200-meter race, this series explores what it truly takes to push through when everything hurts and the finish line still feels far away. Each episode feels like a candid chat between two seasoned experts, moving fluidly between the granular details of stroke technique and the broader, essential themes of athlete wellness and mental resilience. You’ll hear them unpack coaching philosophies, analyze the psychological demands of competition, and share stories that reveal the human side of high-performance swimming. It’s more than just tips for faster times; it’s about building the toughness required for that critical third fifty in a race and, by extension, in sport and life. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded perspective that only decades of direct experience can provide, making this podcast a unique resource for swimmers, coaches, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of physical mastery and mental fortitude.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 18

The Third 50
Podcast Episodes
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FIFTIES!!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:33
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Duration: 12:44
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The Third 50 - E13 - Swim Parents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:26
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Duration: 57:25
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The Third 50 - E11 - Brent Rutemiller - Swimming in Legacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:44
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Ten Things I Wish I Knew When I Started. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:41
Ten Things I Wish I Knew When I Started. Imagine if you could commence your swimming coaching journey - with 10, 20, 30 years of experience somehow magically imprinted on your mind right from the first session! Every coa…
The Third 50 - E9 - Getting Better at Getting Better [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:54
The Third 50 - E9 - Getting Better at Getting Better! Some coaches have been coaching for 20 years. The question is - do you really have 20 years of experience - or do you have 1 year of experience….20 times over. Humans…